10 Top Succulent Plants for the Midwest

With its masses of flowers and light gray-green foliage, 'Autumn Joy' is familiar to many Midwest gardeners. By mid-summer, it produces green broccoli-like buds, which open into large pink flower heads that deepen to rusty red by fall.

Size: Up to 24 inches tallGrowing conditions: Full sun and well-drained soilZones: 3-9

The Sempervivum hens-and-chicks are a group of succulents that grow in low, rosette-forming colonies. With their wide range of colors and textures--some develop long, white hairs that resemble cobwebs--they're perfect for a rock garden or in containers. Their common name comes from the way these succulents spread, with new growth (chicks) forming from the mother rosette (hen).

Size: Up to 6 inches tallGrowing conditions: Full sun and well-drained soilZones: 3-8

This newer selection of Sedum offers dark purple, almost black foliage, crowned by pink-purple flowers. It has a long bloom season, generally from mid-summer to early fall. Like most sedums, 'Purple Emperor' attracts butterflies and is drought-tolerant. For a distinctive look, pair it with a brightly colored foliage plant.

At just 2 inches tall, this is one of the lowest-growing sedums. In summer, the fast-growing groundcover bears a mass of bright yellow-green blossoms. For an even shorter variety, 'Minor' is just 1 inch tall.

Size: Up to 2 inches tallGrowing conditions: Full sun and well-drained soilZones: 4-9

Technically, yucca isn't a succulent, but this strappy plant looks like a succulent and provides an interesting contrast when combined with traditional succulents. Also called Adam's needle, yucca forms a tight rosette of large, leathery leaves that can be green or variegated. A tall flowering stalk rises from the center of each rosette and bears creamy white flowers in late summer.

Size: Foliage up to 3 feet; flower stalk up to 8 feetGrowing conditions: Full sun and well-drained soilZones: 5-10

'Fuldaglut' is a low-growing, mat-forming sedum that can be used as a groundcover. Plants are only a few inches tall but spread as wide as 18 inches. In late summer, the leaves deepen to a maroon-bronze color, creating an interesting contrast with its rose-red blossoms.

Size: Up to 4 inches tallGrowing conditions: Full sun and well-drained soilZones: 4-8